The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-09-21

Messrs. Lufkin & GOrrel, Newton. Iowa, a
copy of ''Napoleons of Peace; or Pillars
and Progress of Civilization" by Laura A.
Richards. 1t is an octave volume of GAO
pages, and is the first book presented from
publishing house to our library. A large
number of sketches are accompanied by
portraits of the subjects. some of which are
excellent and true to life. The Chicago
Times of Sept. 10 has this TO say of the
book:
The authors idea is that the warriors, tyrants
conquerors etc, of the world have had an undue
share of the attention of the annalist. and her
purpose has been to bring prominently to
the notice of the rising generation the overwhem
ing Importance of the arts of peace compared
with the results of and bloodshed' through
putting into brief and readable form outline
accounts of the lives, characters, and achiev-
ments of the patient workers whose busy brains
and cunning hands have invented the countless
machines that have lightened the labor of the
toing million. and brought them to the posi-
biliies of higher civilization; the discoveries of
principles in science and mechanics that
have so often made the inventions possible; the
and new markets to supply; and the countless
benefactors whose aim and delight it has been to
elevate and make happy their tellow-men of all
nations and races" TO this end she has studied
what can now be found relating to the lives and
achievements OF eighty-three men eminent as as
tronomers. chemists electricians. thermOticians,
opticians. explorers. naturalists, inventors, etc,
going back to Thales, and coming down to Ed
iSOn and VaSSar. They are arranged in classes
and prefacing the sketches of the lives of
those eminent in astronomy, chemistry, electric
ity, thermotics. optics, and geography, there is
a general outline sketch of the historic develop
ment of each of these sciences CT course, it is
impossible, within the limits of single volume
that the work be done except in the most
general outline but the author has managed this
that the re adler will get. as Il rule, very fair
notion of the work accomplished by each person
sketched the matter being COINED to fact or the
most general estimate Of character and import
ance of work, and the style being nearly always
plain and simple. 1t would be more labor than
could here be given to the purpose to verify all
the dates and other facts given, but far
casual examination goes, they have been com =
piled with great care well labor, and stated
with degree of accuracy very credtabe to the
author Among the merits of the work it is to be
mentioned that information is given to the
work of some men of which, important it has
BEEN the public know but little. and who are
rarely found mentioned in general books of refer
ence. William Ged, the inventor of stereotyping,
tor example. Considering the of the author
it is not surprising to find the of Matthew
Vassar included in her work, though his sole
claim to the distinction consists in having been
the founder of the college for woman which bears
his name. The book is valuable as IL work of
reference, and plao ed where it will 5e easily ac.
cessible to young readers, will proitably and
tertainingly occupy many of their Odd half-hours.